Report: Crowder, Jackson have spat with Diaco after Michigan game
A report from an anonymous source says that cornerback Jake Crowder and quarterback Isaac Jackson were involved in a verbal altercation with head coach Bob Diaco after Saturday’s win against the Michigan Wolverines.
The source states that Crowder, a senior cornerback who garnered All-American honors last season, complained to Diaco about being benched at different points in the last two games. Crowder was paired up against Tennessee’s #1 wideout J.D. Motley two weeks ago, and Motley had 11 catches for 202 yards and 2 TD’s, with most of those stats coming at the expense of Crowder. On the closing drive, Crowder was taken out by Coach Diaco on select plays in favor of junior J.D. Rudie and sophomore Sam Barnett. While Crowder did come in and make the game saving tackle on Motley to preserve the Huskies’ victory, Diaco had warned his star corner on the bench that he needed to play better or risk being benched.
Crowder was benched again late in the going against Michigan after giving up a number of first down receptions at the expense of UM wideouts J.J. Jones, Timas Scallion and Vince Miller.
Diaco reportedly offered to sit down with Crowder and discuss ways to improve at multiple points in the last ten days, but apparently, Crowder did not take kindly to the help. On the plane ride home from Ann Arbor when Diaco sat down with Crowder to try and work out their issues, Crowder told Diaco to “go f--- himself” and that he didn’t need any help. After that, Diaco questioned Crowder’s commitment to the team and improving as a player. Crowder didn’t respond.
Jake Crowder was an All-American last year. Nine months later, the senior could be out of UConn's plans for the 2020 season.
After that incident, junior quarterback Isaac Jackson added that it was hard to play for a team that was run by a “racist hypocrite”, in reference to Diaco. Jackson was not happy about, in his eyes, not being given a fair shot to win the starting QB job this season. Diaco once again responded with a comment about being a team player and Jackson too did not respond.
Crowder has been struggling ever since spring ball. The senior from New Jersey tallied eight interceptions last year, tied for third most in school history. However, he gave up a lot of big plays in spring camp and has looked atrocious in his assignments vs. Indiana’s Tyler Merrick in week one, Tennessee’s Motley in Week 2 and then his poor play in general against Michigan.
Georgia native Jackson has led multiple comeback victories in his two years playing for UConn and guided the Huskies to the Big 12 Title Game after Tanner Dean-Lowry and Jarrett Rivero went down hurt last year. However, I-Jax was benched before last year’s Buffalo Wild Wings Cactus Bowl upon TDL’s return and hasn’t regained ground since. TDL of course is now a Heisman candidate after throwing for 1100 yards and accounting for 12 TD’s in UConn’s first three games.
Coach Diaco declined to address the incident further, and it is unknown if any disciplinary measures will be taken. We’ll post updates when any new information is released.